The Generals

Major Shee nodded.‘Does that apply to our lads as well as the natives?’

‘It applies to all soldiers, without regard to race or regiment. That includes the men of the 33rd.’

One of the younger officers nervously raised his hand.

‘Yes?’

‘Begging your pardon, sir. But won’t hanging white soldiers damage morale?’

‘Perhaps. But if we don’t do it, then far more damage will be done to the reputation of our army and the Company.You have your orders and you will carry them out. Understand?’

The officer nodded.

‘Then, go to it, gentlemen. I want order restored on the streets by no later than the end of the day. Dismissed!’

By dusk, the fires had been put out, a curfew had been established on the streets and the city was firmly under the control of the acting Governor. The last remnants of Baird’s assault force had been turned out of the city, some bearing the red stripes of a recent flogging, and four red-coated bodies hung from a gibbet over the Mysore gate. The next day, Arthur turned his attention to another pressing issue: the disposal of the corpses that littered the streets and walls of Seringapatam. They had already been exposed to the heat of the Indian sun for nearly two days and the stench of putrefaction filled the still air. Hundreds of the prisoners were ordered to dig mass graves on the eastern end of the island and for five days carts and wagons loaded with bodies trundled out of the city and deposited their grisly burdens into the pits. Over nine thousand of the enemy had been killed in the assault, dwarfing the British losses of little more than three hundred dead.

Tipoo was spared the indignity of a mass grave and granted full honours of war the day that Arthur took control of the city. He organised the burial rites in person.Tipoo’s sons, his surviving ministers and officers from his army were permitted to attend and followed the gun carriage bearing his body to the pyre in a corner of the grounds of the Dowlut Baugh as dark clouds thickened overhead. An honour guard of men from the 33rd lifted the body on to the carefully built layers of wood, decorated with flowers and ornately patterned shrouds. Then, as the first flames licked up around the body, the guns on the city wall boomed out one by one in a solemn salute to the fallen ruler. As his followers wept, rain began to fall, accompanied by jabs of forked lightning that stabbed down from the heavens in blinding daggers of dazzling light.

More than one man had fallen, Arthur reflected as he watched the smoke swirling up into the sky, where it was quickly lost against the heavy black clouds hanging overhead. Tipoo would be the last of his line to rule Mysore. His sons were to be sent into exile in Vellore and the throne of Mysore was to be restored to its original line of Hindu rajas, the sole survivor being a five-year-old boy. Since Krishna Wodeyar was too young to rule in his own right, a regent needed to be found. Another problem that vexed Arthur, since the man in question must have the respect of the native population, as well as the trust of the British.

Two weeks after the fall of the city Henry arrived with a small entourage of officials. He had been sent to report on the situation as soon as Richard had received news from General Harris that Seringapatam had fallen. As he dismounted Henry cast an appreciative eye over the Dowlut Baugh.

‘You seem to have found yourself decent enough lodgings,’ he mused as he shook hands with his brother.

‘Oh, this?’ Arthur smiled. ‘I’m sure it will do for now. Until I can find something better. But do come inside and take some refreshment.’

‘Yes, I will, but first I have something for you.’ Henry reached into his saddlebag and pulled out a small package. ‘Some letters from Kitty. I swear that woman will have created a national paper shortage by the time you return to Ireland.’

While Henry had a bath and changed into some fresh clothes, Arthur sent word of his arrival to General Harris, still encamped to the west of the city, and as daylight faded the three men met on a terrace overlooking the gardens. After admiring the view as the sky turned a brilliant fiery red, they sat at the table Arthur had prepared for the meeting and Henry turned immediately to the notebook he had brought with him.

‘I’m sure you are aware how delighted the Governor General was to hear that the campaign had been concluded quickly and with minimal losses. He asked me to extend his personal gratitiude to you, General Harris.’

Harris bowed his head in polite acknowledgement. ‘Most kind, I’m sure. But there is still some ground to cover, I’m afraid.’

‘Oh?’

‘Not all of Tipoo’s commanders have yet surrendered to us. Some are still at large, and have fallen in with local groups of bandits. It will take some time to stamp them out.’

Henry frowned. ‘Will that entail keeping your army in Mysore? I’m sure you appreciate that John Company is keeping a close eye on the cost of this campaign, and will not be pleased to hear that there will be a delay in dispersing your forces.’

‘It can’t be helped,’ Harris replied evenly. ‘War is an expensive business.We will need to maintain a force in Mysore sufficient to crush the rebels. And one in particular.’

Henry raised an eyebrow as he held his pen poised above a fresh page of his notebook.

‘The man’s called Dhoondiah Waugh,’ Arthur explained. ‘He was one of Tipoo’s prisoners, but he escaped during the attack on the city. Since then he has been enlisting the support of other prisoners, and those who used to fight for Tipoo. So far he has contented himself with brigandage. But his following seems to be growing by the day, and the man has taken to calling himself the King of Two Worlds.’

‘Sounds like a modest, unassuming fellow. What do you propose to do about him, Arthur?’

‘Me? Surely this is a matter for General Harris?’

Henry could not help smiling slightly. ‘I should have told you before, but it seemed only decent to raise the matter once General Harris was with us.’

‘What matter?’ Arthur said irritably. ‘Speak plainly.’

‘Very well. Richard is minded to confirm your appointment as Governor General of Mysore on a permanent basis. That is, if General Harris has no objections.’ He turned to Harris with a questioning look.

‘Objections? No, none whatsoever. Colonel Wellesley has performed his temporary duties with commendable efficiency. The city is back under control, the markets have reopened and he has established good working relations with the local officials. You have my full support for his appointment.’

‘Good!’ Henry nodded with some relief, and Arthur sensed at once that the situation could have been very tricky if Harris had taken any exception to the appointment.‘Then it merely remains to set out the scope of his authority.’ He flicked back a few pages in his notebook and sca

‘Obviously,’ Harris replied. ‘And what kind of force does your brother propose to leave here in Mysore?’

‘Given the need to clear out the remaining nests of rebellion, and that fellow . . . what was his name again?’

‘Dhoondiah Waugh,’ Arthur answered patiently.

‘Of course.’The pen dipped into his inkwell and scratched out a brief note. ‘Now, as I was saying, the force will need to be sufficient for the job. According to the advice Richard sought in Madras, two regiments of King’s cavalry, another two of the Company’s native cavalry, and three battalions of King’s infantry and six of the Company’s should suffice. In addition to a decent complement of artillery, of course.’ Henry looked up i